OpenVPN Support Forum

Same problem here, my guess is that it has to do with OpenVPN app missing from Background App Refresh list on iPhone, this means iPhone cuts any background activity for OpenVPN app after a few minutes in the background. The solution that kind of works that I discovered is this:
- import or create VPN profile through OpenVPN app as usual
- do not connect to VPN through the app; instead, go to iPhone Settings -> VPN (it should recognize the profile) and turn it on here.
It doesn't work 100% of the time, there are still disconnects sometimes, however this works much more consistently.

Hi,
Just to share, this very annoying behavior,
I have the same here:
- Iphone 7+
- IOS 15.5
- openvpn :
* on ios 3.3.0 (5047)
* on raspberry pi 2.4.7-1+deb10u1
Was working as charm since several years until now for IOS, still work with ubuntu and android clients
Thank you for any advice / answer

Hi,
- Updated IOS from 15.5 to 15.6 : nothing better
- A major function (with openvpn/VPN) used since years DO NOT work anymore.
Any idea?

phil3535 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 27, 2022 2:30 pm

Hi,
- Updated IOS from 15.5 to 15.6 : nothing better
- A major function (with openvpn/VPN) used since years DO NOT work anymore.
Any idea?

I haven't done any specific testing, but as far as I know nothing has changed. This behaviour only presents when both the LTE/3G/cellular network, and wifi are disconnected at the same time. It's readily reproducible when leaving service areas (IE: specific parking garages/basements/etc.), and will basically kill off the VPN connection until it's manually re-established, every single time.

I'm still on the Iphone SE 2020, IOS 15.5, and it's consistent. AFAIK, OpenVPN hasn't released any patches to address/etc.

Hi @porcupine,
Thank you for your answer.
Since years, I use OpenVPN to save all photos/videos to a synology using DSfile over the VPN.
conditions are:
- mobile connected to a wifi or to a 4G cellular network,
- OpenVPN started and connected,
- DSfile starts and "usually" all photos and videos are saved.
now (since a few weeks now) the VPN stops working after a few time (let say around 2minutes), and the VPN switch for the profil switchs off.
Nothing in the logs of the VPN server.
I make the NAS visible on the internet (so no VPN needed) .. and DSfile works as usual, all photos/videos were saved: so DSfile works.
The issue is VPN&IOS. I saved all photos/videos for my wife using her mobile under android, with openVPN and DSfile, as usual with no problem
Kind regards